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Evacuations orders in place due to massive Mendocino Complex Fires

Aug 05 2018

An estimated 14,000 people were under evacuation orders and the U.S. Forest Service said the fires continued to grow rapidly thanks to hot, dry windy weather and tinder-dry brush.

Inspecting the fire-damaged neighborhoods of Redding on Saturday, the governor also said California needs a statewide emergency alert system. The blazes have burned over 450,000 acres (703 square miles) and damaged or destroyed more than 2,000 structures.

More immediately, the declaration will enable federal agencies to help battle the 17 major fires burning throughout the state. Then the Holiday fire hit Santa Barbara County, destroying homes and forcing evacuations. They have grown to nearly 250 square miles (648 kilometers). The southern one produced the EF3 fire tornado - the only other instance of which was in Canberra, Australia on January 18, 2003! However, take note: Contrary to a tweet sent out Friday night around 9: p.m., the two fires have not merged.

The Fresno Bee reported Saturday that a 50-vehicle procession carrying the body Brian Hughes drove through the town before the memorial service.

The River fire, which threatens west Clear Lake communities, is at about 32,000 acres with 38 percent containment.

The Mendocino Complex Fire grew to 157,450 acres (63,700 hectares) late Friday, about half the size of Los Angeles, forcing almost 16,000 homeowners to flee a blaze that has destroyed 88 structures about 93 miles (150 km) north of San Francisco, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire).

The Carr Fire in northern California has burned more than 130,000 acres in a two-week span, killing six people, displacing 35,000, and destroying more than 1,500 buildings. Burning for 13 days, the Carr Fire still threatens 1,358 structures.

Firefighting costs have more than tripled from $242 million in the 2013 fiscal year to $773 million in the 2018 fiscal year that ended June 30, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or CalFire. The Carr Fire is also the 13th-deadliest and 18th-largest wildfire in the Golden State has seen since records began. "Whatever resources are needed, we're putting them there", said California Gov. Jerry Brown told reporters. The Ranch Fire moved into sparsely populated areas, but the River Fire ran through an area with scattered ranches northwest of Lakeport, California.

"It could be tight here at our door step and you know we have a lot of older houses here a lot of wooden structures, it's bad news", said Adams.

Additionally, the Ferguson fire rages near Yosemite National Park. Yosemite remains closed to visitors at least through Sunday at this time.